Yankees have 4 of MLB's top 25 salaries in 2011
New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez gestures after taking batting practice before the Yankees spring training baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Steinbrenner Field. (March 9, 2011) Credit: AP
No surprise that the team with baseball's highest payroll for 2011 ($202,689,208) also has four the top 25 salaries in Major League Baseball, according to USA Today's annual report.
Of the top 25, 10 are pitchers, 8 play the outfield and 4 play first base.
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM | SALARY | POSITION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Rodriguez | Yankees | $32,000,000 | Third base |
| 2 | Vernon Wells | Angels | 26,187,500 | Outfield |
| 3 | CC Sabathia | Yankees | 24,285,714 | Pitcher |
| 4 | Mark Teixeira | Yankees | 23,125,000 | First base |
| 5 | Joe Mauer | Twins | 23,000,000 | Catcher |
| 6 | Johan Santana | Mets | 21,644,707 | Pitcher |
| 7 | Todd Helton | Rockies | 20,275,000 | First base |
| 8 | Miguel Cabrera | Tigers | 20,000,000 | First base |
| 8 | Roy Halladay | Phillies | 20,000,000 | Pitcher |
| 8 | Ryan Howard | Phillies | 20,000,000 | First base |
| 11 | Carlos Beltran | Mets | 19,325,436 | Outfield |
| 12 | Carlos Lee | Astros | 19,000,000 | Outfield |
| 12 | Alfonso Soriano | Cubs | 19,000,000 | Outfield |
| 14 | Carlos Zambrano | Cubs | 18,875,000 | Pitcher |
| 15 | Torii Hunter | Angels | 18,500,000 | Outfield |
| 15 | Barry Zito | Giants | 18,500,000 | Pitcher |
| 17 | Jason Bay | Mets | 18,125,000 | Outfield |
| 18 | Ichiro Suzuki | Mariners | 18,000,000 | Outfield |
| 19 | Josh Beckett | Red Sox | 17,000,000 | Pitcher |
| 20 | A.J. Burnett | Yankees | 16,500,000 | Pitcher |
| 21 | Matt Holliday | Cardinals | 16,317,774 | Outfield |
| 22 | Michael Young | Rangers | 16,174,974 | Infield |
| 23 | Roy Oswalt | Phillies | 16,000,000 | Pitcher |
| 23 | Jake Peavy | White Sox | 16,000,000 | Pitcher |
| 25 | John Lackey | Red Sox | 15,950,000 | Pitcher |
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